Wednesday, 19 October 2016

As some of you may know I have a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which causes hypermobile joints, pain, fatigue and a whole heap of other symptoms. I have become quite disabled by this condition to the point where I need assistance to do many tasks that most people take for granted.

Last year I came across a charity called Canine Partners. They provide disabled people with trained assistance dogs. The dogs are absolutely amazing! They can fetch the post, open doors, even empty the washing machine. I spoke to my family about it and we agreed that I should apply for a dog. I went through the assessment process and I have been placed on the waiting list.

It costs £20,000 to train and support a Canine Partner through their working life and I wanted to give something back. I wasn't sure how I could fund raise, I'm too sick to run a marathon or jump out of a plane so I looked at what I can do best. Crochet!

I made this blanket in purple (to match the Canine Partners logo) and cream, I chose a chunky acrylic yarn which is very soft, warm and easy to care for. It measure 48" square and it would be great for snuggling up in your favourite arm chair on a cold winters evening.

I've listed the blanket on eBay with 100% of the proceeds going to Canine Partners. If you want to buy a great blanket and support and even greater cause then please bid. The auction ends at 6pm on Monday 24th October.

Thursday, 29 September 2016

For the past few months I've been making little crochet Pokemon figures to give away as part of the #CrochetGo movement. It's been so much fun! I've been hiding them around my home town centre and in video game stores for Pokemon Go players to find. And when people find them they post on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #CrochetGo to let me know they've been found.

People from all over the world have been taking part. Check out #CrochetGo on Twitter and Instagram to see the characters people have created and the happy faces of the Pokemon fans who found them.

Now I'm giving my blog readers a chance at winning this little group of Pokemon in Mrs Flowerpot's #CrochetGo Givea

There is Charmander, Squirtle, Psyduck, Horsea, Pikachu, Staryu and a Pokeball up for grabs.

The competition is now closed. Thank you for entering. The winner will be announced shortly.

Closing date is 15th October 2016 midnight GMT.
A winner will be drawn at random from all entries received before the closing date.
The winner will be contacted by email.
I promise not to spam you or sell your details.
Mrs Flowerpot's decision is final.

Good luck everyone!

Oh yeah, before anyone asks I'm really sorry but I do not sell Pokemon figures. Pokemon characters are protected by copyright and I would be in breach of that copyright law if I made them to sell without having permission or a licence from the copyright holder.

I do however sell some pretty awesome crochet lace shawls on my Etsy store so if you're looking for something special then please visit Mrs Flowerpot's Emporium

Thursday, 8 September 2016

I've been busy making lots of Pokemon for #CrochetGo using Nichole's Nerdy Knots patterns and I thought I'd have a go at writing my own. I love water Pokemon so I chose Horsea because he didn't look too complicated.

It turns out that pattern writing isn't that easy but after a few false starts and revisions I got there in the end. And here he is!

Anyway, if you'd like to make your own Horsea here's the pattern. It's written in British crochet terms using DK yarn but you want to make it in worsted I'd recommend going up to a 4mm hook.

Round 16: 1ch, dec to end, join. Fasten off.
Use tail to draw through stitches and close up hole.

To make head spikes:

Using pale blue *make 6ch, htr in second chain from hook, 1 htr in each
stitch to end. Do not fasten off. Repeat from * twice more. You should have three spikes all joined
together. Fasten off leaving a long tail
to sew onto the head.
Make a second set of spikes in the same way.

Sew spikes
onto the sides of the head.
Sew the head onto the body.
Sew the chest onto the body.
Sew the tail in a tight curl towards the body.
Sew the fins onto the back about 2.5cm/1" below the head.
Embroider the eyes using red, white and black.

Using black
yarn make a magic ring.Round 1: 5dc into magic ring. Join and pull the ring tight.Round 2: 1 ch, dc into each stitch
to end. Join and change to yellow yarn.Rounds 3 - 6: 1 ch, dc into each
stitch. Join.
After round 6 fasten off leaving a long tail to sew the ear onto the hat.
Make the second ear in the same way.

To make the cheeks:

Using red
yarn make a magic ring.Round 1: 5dc into magic ring. Join with a slip stitch and pull the ring
tight. Fasten off and leave a long tail
for sewing the cheeks onto the hat.
Make a second cheek in the same way.

To make up the hat:

Using the
long tail stitch the ears onto the hat approximately between rounds 3 and 5.

Sew on 8mm black sequins or buttons for the eyes. Alternatively you can embroider the eyes or
stitch on small circles of felt.

Using the
long tail stitch the red cheeks onto the hat.
They will be almost at the bottom edge and space slightly wider than the
eyes.

Send your finished hat to the address on the
Innocent Smoothies The Big Knit website.

Monday, 29 August 2016

For the past couple of weeks I've been busy crocheting something different - pocket monsters, better known as Pokemon! I was a huge fan when Pokemon came out, I watched the adventures of Ash and Pikachu on the TV show and I even bought a Pikachu backpack.

Now I'm a mum and my kids have seriously become addicted to Pokemon Go, spending every waking minute searching the streets for new Pokemon to catch, looking for Pokestops and battling in gyms around town.

I came across some crochet patterns for Pokemon on Ravelry and learned that a lady called Nichole from Texas, USA, had started something called #CrochetGo. She was posting free crochet patterns for Pokemon and encouraging people to make them and leave them at Pokestops in their home towns for Pokemon Go players to find.

Each Pokemon had a tag asking the finder to post a photograph on social media with the hashtag #CrochetGo so the maker could keep track of which Pokemon had been found. I thought it was an excellent idea so I dived into my stash and started crocheting!

I left my Pokemon at Pokestops and game shops in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK and I've had some wonderful messages on Twitter from people who have found my gifts. It's such a rewarding thing to do, especially when you see happy faces of the children who found a real life Pokemon.

If you want to take part in #Crochet Go check out the following Facebook groups:

Friday, 12 August 2016

A few years ago a good friend of mine, Babylonglegs, got me into spinning. I tried out her Louet S10 and loved it so I bought my own Louet S15. It was so therapeutic turning the fluffy clouds of wool fibre into squishy multicoloured yarns but one thing was holding me back - pain. I didn't know it at the time but I had Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder which causes hypermobile joints and pain (along with lots of other unpleasant symptoms).

I found it difficult treadling with my right knee and the pain almost made me quit spinning but I don't give up that easily. I traded my S15 in for a very pretty Louet S51 DT, hoping that using both legs on the double treadle would ease my pain. Sadly for me it didn't and my lovely spinning wheel and my stash of fluffy fibre have sat unloved for the past few years.

I really missed spinning and I was determined to find a way to continue my hobby. I researched electric spinning wheels (no treadling required!) but they were all very expensive, ranging from £430 for an Ashford E Spinner to over £1000 for a Hansen Mini Spinner. They were all out of my price range so I scoured buy and sell groups and checked eBay every day for months until this one electronic wheel appeared. An Ertoel Roberta.

The seller didn't seem to know much about spinning, the wheel looked in really bad shape but from the photographs it looked like all the important bits were there. The starting bid was £20, which is incredibly low considering they sell new in America for $1,095. I watched the auction until the very last few minutes and I put in my bid. I didn't think I was going to win, I was convinced someone was going to outbid me and I prepared myself for disappointment but when the countdown ended I was the highest bidder at £129.77!

I did my happy dance and then patiently waited for my parcel to arrive. And this is what I got.

After doing some research I discovered she's about 30 years old and made in Australia. Cosmetically she needs a little TLC. The lacquer is peeling off the woodwork and the orifice hook holder is broken but there is nothing that can't be fixed.

The flyer is a little rusty and slightly bent so that will need replacing with a modern jumbo flyer, one of the bobbins rattles a little and the leather bearings have seen better days but everything else is in good working order.

Sunday, 1 May 2016

I'd like to invite you over to my new shop, Mrs Flowerpot's. I've set up on Etsy selling my crochet shawls and other trinkets and accessories.

As some of you may know I started Flowerpot Tots 12 years ago selling wool longies and cloth nappies. My children are growing up fast and my nappy days are long behind me so I thought I'd put my talents to good use making something a little more grown up.

I have always loved to crochet, I caught the bug when I was 15 and I've never stopped. I've made everything from granny square blankets to intricate doilies using crochet hooks so small you can barely see them.

Recently I've been making a lot of shawls in sock and lace weight yarns. I've posted pictures on social media and people started asking if I was selling them, so I thought it would be a good idea to set up shop.

At the moment I only have shawls in stock but I hope to be adding some Japanese knot bag very soon. They make excellent project bags for your knitting of crochet.

So please pop by the shop and if you like what you see add me to your favourites so you won't miss out on the latest updates.